10th NASS: Akpabio Senate Presidency Is Not Yet Settled, As Opposition Members Gang Up

 After weeks of intrigues, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, finally announced that it had zoned the position of the Senate President to the South-South and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the Northwest for the forthcoming 10th National Assembly.

The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, confirmed the arrangement in a press briefing at the end of the Party's NEC meeting held at its national secretariat in Abuja.

The Party also said it zoned the position of Deputy Senate President to the Northwest and Deputy Speaker to the Southeast. Adopting a zoning template of candidates by its President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, APC settled for Senators Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jubrin for the Senate leadership and Messrs Abass Tajudeen and Ben Kalu for the House of Representatives leadership.

"The NWC noted with respect the outcome of the meetings held between the President-elect and the leadership of the NWC. The NWC called for further and better consultation with necessary stakeholders to ensure the support of the aspirants to the National Assembly leadership positions and members of the APC nationwide.

"The zoning arrangement reported to the NWC is as follows: Senate President – South-South Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Deputy Senate President – (North West), Senator Barau Jubrin (Kano).

"Speaker, House of Representatives North West-Hon. Abbas Tajudeen (Kaduna); Deputy Speaker (South East), Hon. Ben Kalu (Abia)", Muoka said. The development has seemingly put to bed the ambition of Orji Uzo Kalu and Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State to clinch the much-revered position in the NASS.

The duo who had won senatorial elections on the platform of the APC canvassed to be made Senate President, as, according to them, that would ensure equity because they are from South East.

"So, for inclusiveness, unity of the country and for everybody to be carried along, the Southeast deserves the position, and so far, nobody has been able to say this is the reason why the Southeast should not be given that position, and I am pleading for that," Umahi had said.

Kalu, on his part, had described himself as the best candidate to emerge as the next Senate President. He claimed he could unite Nigeria if elected as Senate President.

"I am the best among the candidates. I can unite Nigeria, and I am the best to work with our President-elect for the best interest of Nigeria.

"I have the integrity, honesty, and experience to lead the Senate", Kalu said.

However, as the drama ensued, Umahi jettisoned moves by Southeast stakeholders to produce the next President of the Senate.

He claimed that Tinubu urged him to step down for Akpabio in the race for the 10th Senate presidency.

Umahi explained that he discussed his Senate presidency bid with Tinubu and had to accede to his request in the Party's interesPartyesterday, I saw the President-elect on his invitation, and he told me that he was already committed that I should hold on. So I have stepped down for my brother Akpabio. He is my consensus candidate," he said. But Kalu insisted that Igbos should be compensated with the position of Senate Presidency after giving President Muhammadu Buhari the needed support.

However, mixed reactions have continued to trail the choice of Akpabio by the ruling partPartyspite his nomination by the verdict partPartyposition mounts from several quarters on his road to victory.

Akpabio is not in the good books of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, or caucus in the National Assembly, including the outgoing 9th Assembly and the incoming 10th Assembly. As a result, entreaties from the former governor of Akwa Ibom are gaining a low impact.

Also, Zamfara West Senator-elect, Abdul'Aziz Yari, is said to have rebuffed persuasion by Tinubu to step down for Akpabio in the Senate presidency race, insisting he will go ahead to contest the position.

Yari said it should be based on constitutional provisions and not instructions by anyone. He said, "What is going to happen that day? It will happen based on the instructions of the constitution and not for anyone."

Some northern aspirants for leadership positions in the National Assembly have also kicked against the planned zoning arrangement of the APC.

For instance, Senator Ali Ndume and Jibrin Barau, who are eyeing the Senate presidency, have said they would contest with or without the zoning arrangement.

Jibrin noted that the position of the Senate president requires experience and competence, not sentiments.

Also, Kalu, who declared his turn to become the Senate President in March, has written personal letters to the members of the NWC of the APC and all of the 108 Senators-elect, indicating his interest in being the next Senate President.

Kalu's media office released an official statement on Monday refuting news that the Southeast senators-elect endorsed him. The former Abia State governor said he is offering himself to the Nigerian people, the senators-elect and the partPartyh sincerity of heart, humility, and candour for the position of Senate President.

"I promise to work for you, promote and defend the constitution, and the partPartyd foster a friendly and cordial relationship between the partPartye executive and the judiciary.

"One thing is indubitably certain: working together in unity and mutual love and respect, we can take Nigeria to the next level of peace, progress, and development," part of Kalu's letter read.

The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Sam Amadi, claimed that the Southeast is okay with the list of endorsed principal officers of the National Assembly by the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Amadi, a public affairs analyst, claimed that people of the Southeast were happy and reacted to their sidelining, saying, "We don't want a distraction. We are building bridges." His comment is believed to be an aftermath of the 2023 presidential election, during which some prominent politicians from the zone, including Kalu and Umahi, had said Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, was wasting his time and that the Southeast was not ripe for the position.

They had insisted that the Igbo needed to be ripe, mature and ready to produce the President. Their position was that the Igbo should instead take more time to build political bridges.

"People in the Southeast like the APC list of endorsed principal officers of NASS. They are saying, 'We don't want distraction. We are building bridges.

"I think @OfficialAPCNg shows better deliberateness in their zoning than the others. Be quick and clear anyhow you want to do it," Amadi wrote on his Twitter handle.

Meanwhile, Onyebuchi Igboke, the Project Manager of Advocacy Partnership for Good Governance and Convener, Office of the Citizens, told Said that what Orji Kalu and Dave Umahi are experiencing was expected and should be a lesson. Igboke advised the Igbo political elites, including traditional rulers, to return to the drawing board and strategize on politically engaging other zones.

He said the duo might be paying the price for making statements that did not favour the Southeast.

He said," Regarding the issue of National Assembly Senate president, Dave Umahi and Orji Kalu. However, people are mocking them; for me, it shouldn't be the issue of bullying individuals because it is becoming deliberate that a particular region is being marginalized.

"It is also understandable to know why some people started mocking them because it looked as if they could not read the handwriting on the wall or were over-ambitious or over-trusting the political cabals in the APC. If you remember what Kalu said about Obi before the general election, and even Dave Umahi, they were making all kinds of statements that did not favour the Southeast. Some people might feel they are getting their share of their deeds, but the issue here is that it is high time we begin to come together as a people; we start to know that we must come as a group. Group interest should override our individual interest politically.

" I don't know why it is always about the Igbos. With what is happening currently, it is high time the Igbo political elites, traditional rulers, and all the stakeholders in Igbo land should return to the drawing board and strategize on engaging in the political process.

"It is obvious even in the PDP that Igbos supported over the years, they could not give a presidential ticket to a Southeast person. So it is time they come back to do a review. What is happening to Orji Kalu and Dave Umahi???? I expected such to happen, and it should be a lesson. But the likes of Umahi are already supporting Akpabio. We can come back together, restrategize collectively, and stop pursuing all those things as individuals. Most of us are very desperate for power."

However, the President of the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), Olu Omotayo, told DAILY POST in an interview that Umahi and Kalu only wield a little political power within the APC structure.

However, the legal expert called on the APC to ensure Federal Character in the composition of the country's leadership structure.

He said," I will not be able to say much on the internal politics of APC as a party but be that as it may, the partPartyadvised to ensure Federal Character in the sharing formula of power or in the composition of the leadership structure of this country.

" The duo may need to be more robust to wield much political power within the APC structure because there are very few Senators of Southeast extraction in the APC. So they can do little in the face of the present predicament. After weeks of intrigues, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, finally announced that it had zoned the position of the Senate President to the South-South and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the Northwest for the forthcoming 10th National Assembly.

The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, confirmed the arrangement in a press briefing at the end of the partParty's meeting held at its national secretariat in Abuja.

The PartPartyo said it zoned the position of Deputy Senate President to the Northwest and Deputy Speaker to the Southeast.

Adopting a zoning template of candidates by its President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, APC settled for Senators Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jubrin for the Senate leadership and Messrs Abass Tajudeen and Ben Kalu for the House of Representatives leadership.

"The NWC noted with respect the outcome of the meetings held between the President-elect and the leadership of the NWC. The NWC called for further and better consultation with necessary stakeholders to ensure the support of the aspirants to the National Assembly leadership positions and members of the APC nationwide.

"The zoning arrangement reported to the NWC is as follows: Senate President – South-South Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Deputy Senate President – (North West), Senator Barau Jubrin (Kano).

"Speaker, House of Representatives North West-Hon. Abbas Tajudeen (Kaduna); Deputy Speaker (South East), Hon. Ben Kalu (Abia)", Muoka said.

The development has seemingly put to bed the ambition of Orji Uzo Kalu and Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State to clinch the much-revered position in the NASS.

The duo who had won senatorial elections on the platform of the APC canvassed to be made Senate President, as, according to them, that would ensure equity because they are from South East.

"So, for inclusiveness, unity of the country and for everybody to be carried along, the Southeast deserves the position, and so far, nobody has been able to say this is the reason why the Southeast should not be given that position, and I am pleading for that," Umahi had said.

Kalu, on his part, had described himself as the best candidate to emerge as the next Senate President.

He claimed he could unite Nigeria if elected as Senate President.

"I am the best among the candidates. I can unite Nigeria, and I am the best to work with our President-elect for the best interest of Nigeria.

"I have the integrity, honesty, and experience to lead the Senate", Kalu said.

However, as the drama ensued, Umahi jettisoned moves by Southeast stakeholders to produce the next President of the Senate.

He claimed that Tinubu urged him to step down for Akpabio in the race for the 10th Senate presidency.

Umahi explained that he discussed his Senate presidency bid with Tinubu and had to accede to his request in the Party's interest.

"YPartyday, I saw the President-elect on his invitation, and he told me that he is already committed that I should hold on. So I have stepped down for my brother Akpabio. He is my consensus candidate," he said.

But Kalu insisted that Igbos should be compensated with the position of Senate Presidency after giving President Muhammadu Buhari the needed support.

However, mixed reactions have continued to trail the choice of Akpabio by the ruling Party.

DeParty, his nomination by the ruling Party, operation mounts from several quarters on his road to victory.

Akpabio is not in the good books of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, or caucus in the National Assembly, including the outgoing 9th Assembly and the incoming 10th Assembly. As a result, entreaties from the former governor of Akwa Ibom are gaining a low impact.

Also, Zamfara West Senator-elect, Abdul'Aziz Yari, is said to have rebuffed persuasion by Tinubu to step down for Akpabio in the Senate presidency race, insisting he will go ahead to contest the position.

Yari said it should be based on constitutional provisions and not instructions by anyone.

He said, "What is going to happen that day? It will happen based on the instructions of the constitution and not for anyone."

Some northern aspirants for leadership positions in the National Assembly have also kicked against the planned zoning arrangement of the APC.

For instance, Senator Ali Ndume and Jibrin Barau, who are eyeing the Senate presidency, have said they would contest with or without the zoning arrangement.

Jibrin noted that the position of the Senate president requires experience and competence, not sentiments.

Also, Kalu, who declared his turn to become the Senate President in March, has written personal letters to the members of the NWC of the APC and all of the 108 Senators-elect, indicating his interest in being the next Senate President.

Kalu's media office released an official statement on Monday refuting news that the Southeast senators-elect endorsed him.

The former Abia State governor said he is offering himself to the Nigerian people, the senators-elect and the party witPartycerity of heart, humility, and candour for the position of Senate President.

"I promise to work for you, promote and defend the constitution and the Party, and aspartate a friendly and cordial relationship between the Party, the thPartycutive and the judiciary.

"One thing is indubitably certain: working together in unity and mutual love and respect, we can take Nigeria to the next level of peace, progress, and development," part of Kalu's letter read.

The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Sam Amadi, claimed that the Southeast is okay with the list of endorsed principal officers of the National Assembly by the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Amadi, a public affairs analyst, claimed that people of the Southeast were happy and reacted to their sidelining, saying, "We don't want a distraction. We are building bridges."

His comment is believed to be an aftermath of the 2023 presidential election, during which some prominent politicians from the zone, including Kalu and Umahi, had said Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, was wasting his time and that the Southeast was not ripe for the position.

They had insisted that the Igbo needed to be ripe, mature and ready to produce the President. Their position was that the Igbo should instead take more time to build political bridges.

"People in the Southeast like the APC list of endorsed principal officers of NASS. They are saying, 'We don't want distraction. We are building bridges.

"I think @OfficialAPCNg shows better deliberateness in their zoning than the others. Be quick and clear anyhow you want to do it," Amadi wrote on his Twitter handle.

Meanwhile, Onyebuchi Igboke, the Project Manager of Advocacy Partnership for Good Governance and Convener, Office of the Citizens, told DAILY POST that what Orji Kalu and Dave Umahi are experiencing was expected and should be a lesson.

Igboke advised the Igbo political elites, including traditional rulers, to return to the drawing board and strategize on politically engaging other zones.

He said the duo might be paying the price for making statements that did not favour the Southeast.

He said," Regarding the issue of National Assembly Senate president, Dave Umahi and Orji Kalu. However, people are mocking them; for me, it shouldn't be the issue of bullying individuals because it is becoming deliberate that a particular region is being marginalized.

"It is also understandable to know why some people started mocking them because it looked as if they could not read the handwriting on the wall or were over-ambitious or over-trusting the political cabals in the APC. If you remember what Kalu said about Obi before the general election, and even Dave Umahi, they were making all kinds of statements that did not favour the Southeast.

" Currently, some people might feel they are getting their own share of their deeds, but the issue here is that it is high time we began to come together as a people; we began to know that we must come as a group. Group interest should override our individual interest politically.

" I don't know why it is always about the Igbos. With what is happening currently, it is high time the Igbo political elites, traditional rulers, and all the stakeholders in Igbo land should return to the drawing board and strategize on engaging in the political process.

"Even in the PDP that Igbos supported over the years, they could not give a presidential ticket to a Southeast person. So it is time they come back to do a review.

" What is happening to Orji Kalu and Dave Umahi, for me, I expected such to happen, and it should be a lesson. But the likes of Umahi are already supporting Akpabio. We can come back together, restrategize collectively, and stop pursuing all those things as individuals. Most of us are very desperate for power."

However, the President of the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), Olu Omotayo, told DAILY POST in an interview that Umahi and Kalu only wield a little political power within the APC structure.

However, the legal expert called on the APC to ensure Federal Character in the composition of the country's leadership structure.

He said," I will not be able to say much on the internal politics of APC as a party but be that as it may, the Party is Partyed to ensure Federal Character in the power-sharing formula or in the composition of the leadership structure of this country.

" The duo may need to be more robust to wield much political power within the APC structure because there are very few Senators of Southeast extraction in the APC. So they can do little in the face of the present predicament.

" I don't think it's an issue of payback time, but it shows that though they are in the party, the party does not have the clout or, in the real sense, lack the political power or influence to sway critical decisions in favour of their zone, which is the Southeast."

In a sharp disagreement, however, a former media aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, warns that excluding the Southeast would cause more problems for the country.

He said the Southeast ought to have the Senate Presidency for equity.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Omokri maintained that if Nigeria must be peaceful, stable and prosperous, it
must practice power sharing.

He wrote, "Yes, the Southeast has had 5 Senate Presidents since 1999, but they have never had the Presidency. The Northwest, Southwest and South-South have. The Northwest, Northeast, South-South and Southwest have also occupied the vice Presidency. "If we want Nigeria to be peaceful, stable and prosperous, we must practice power sharing. For equity, the Southeast ought to have the Senate Presidency. That, and rapid infrastructural investment in the region, will make them feel part of Nigeria and loved by the rest of the country. If we do not give it to them, let us be ready for more separatist agitations."